A vital part of any youngster’s development is a loan spell – especially if they’re owned by Chelsea.

When Lukaku signed for Chelsea from Anderlecht in 2011, it was always likely that the Belgian was going to go out on loan before getting a chance in the first team.

Unlike some teenagers who have the attitude of being too good to go out and get games, Lukaku got his head down and went to West Brom.

The Baggies are hardly the most attractive club on the market, but Lukaku still managed to score 17 league goals in 35 games while at the Hawthorns – enhancing his reputation in the process.

After returning to Chelsea and planning on fighting for a first team place, it became clear that he wasn’t going to get a chance.

Instead of sitting on the bench collecting his more than decent wages, Lukaku went on loan to Everton and produced a similar goal haul, before signing permanently a year later.

Liverpool Echo

His Consistency

Since arriving in the Premier League and being given plenty of game time, Lukaku is always a threat.

Thanks to his physique, the 22-year-old always has a way of affecting the game, whether it’s with his pace, height or ability to drop deep and take possession.

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A common criticism of young strikers is that they struggle for consistency and tend to only affect games in fits and starts, so to have the consistency needed to become one of the world’s best is something that sets him apart from others.

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His Goal Record

Lukaku became just the fifth player under 23 to score 50 Premier League goals in November last year, joining Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo on the exclusive list.

Since leaving Chelsea on loan – and then permanently when he signed for Everton – Lukaku has never scored less than ten Premier League goals.

That kind of record is as good as anyone who’s ever played in the Premier League, and his record of netting 50 in 100 games for Everton could see him go on to become one of the league’s all time top scorers.

From next season, if Lukaku scores 15 goals per season for the next three years, he’ll have scored more goals than Didier Drogba, and he’ll only be 26.